NA17 peptide–HLA-A2 complex (NA17-A2)

The NA17 peptide–HLA-A2 complex is a tumor-associated antigen complex consisting of a peptide (typically the nonapeptide VLPDVFIRC) bound to the Human Leukocyte Antigen A2 (HLA-A2) molecule. The NA17 peptide is uniquely derived from an unspliced intron sequence of the N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase V (GnT-V) gene, which is aberrantly expressed in approximately 50% of melanoma cases but is absent in normal tissues. This high degree of tumor specificity makes the complex a significant target for cancer immunotherapy, including peptide vaccines and adoptive T-cell therapies. Recognition of the complex by CD8+ cytolytic T lymphocytes (CTLs) triggers an immune response that leads to the destruction of malignant cells. Clinical trials have investigated NA17-based vaccines, often in combination with other agents like NGR-hTNF or as part of dendritic cell-based therapies, to improve T-cell infiltration and clinical outcomes in patients with metastatic melanoma. While the complex is highly immunogenic, achieving robust objective clinical responses remains a therapeutic challenge.

Other names

NA17-A2 complexGnT-V intron-derived peptide–HLA-A2 complexNA17-A antigenN-acetylglucosaminyltransferase V intron-encoded peptide–HLA-A2 complexVLPDVFIRC–HLA-A2 complex

The NA17 peptide–HLA-A2 complex serves as a target for immunotherapy. Vaccines (peptide or dendritic cell-based) aim to induce or expand cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) that specifically recognize the NA17 peptide presented by HLA-A2 on tumor cells, leading to targeted cell lysis.